Facts

PHOTO GALLERIES

Citing recent Ivory Lounge shows such as “Drag Queen Pillow Fighting,” “Drag Queen Jell-O Wrestling,” and an event called “Hump the Pumpkin,” the residents of a nearby condominium association claim the bar is operating illegally as an adult business.

The small but vocal group of residents at 50 Central Ave. are lobbying City Hall to revoke the Ivory Lounge's nightclub permit and possibly force it out of business. City code enforcers said they are waiting for legal advice before they respond, and expect an answer in the next two weeks.

Though somewhat original, these complaints are only the latest in an on-again, off-again conflict between The Plaza at Five Points Residences Condominium Association and the Ivory Lounge, 1413 Main St.

The residents have been complaining of noise at the club for years, and it still appears to be their chief concern. A recent letter to the city's code enforcement office from the condo association's attorney, Stephen Thompson, claims the noise is worse than ever.

But to remedy the problem, the residents have adopted the strategy of convincing city officials that the Ivory Lounge should be treated as something akin to an adult bookstore or theater.

If they succeed, the Ivory Lounge could be in trouble. It cannot continue to operate as a nightclub if it lost the permit, and Thompson is claiming the “Drag Queen” shows and other events have turned it into something different.

“I am sure these uses were not contemplated when the city commissioners approved the original conditional use permit,” Thompson wrote. “This is not the 'upscale martini lounge for a mature, educated customer,' approved by the city.”

But it is not clear that attorneys for the city will agree with Thompson's labeling of the club. Even if they do, the owner will have 60 days to appeal to the City Commission, said Tim Litchet, director of the city's building, zoning and code enforcement department.

Sarasota attorney Charlie Bailey, representing Ivory Lounge, said he hopes the city's answer will dispel any questions about whether the establishment is a nightclub or something more.

Friction

Whatever the character of Ivory Lounge's entertainment, it appears noise and disturbances at the club are still the main issue for residents.

Representatives of the Ivory Lounge have said before that they are making every effort to follow the law and limit inconveniences to the neighbors, including installing a $400 “limiter” device to control the volume of the club's sound system.

But after meeting with city code enforcement to discuss those complaints in September, Thompson wrote that the situation was worse than ever.

“The residents of Five Points are continuously calling the police to report excessive noise, fights, and other disturbances,” he wrote. “All related to the Ivory or its patrons.”

Thompson argues that the city has only two options: revoke the club's permit or force the owner to seek a new permit for the activities that, he contends, go beyond typical nightclub management.

The city's response to the new complaint against Ivory Lounge will be delivered in the next two weeks, said City Attorney Bob Fournier.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - The Ivory Lounge isn't just a nightclub, according to some of its neighbors. </p><p>They call it an “adult cabaret.”</p><p>Citing recent Ivory Lounge shows such as “Drag Queen Pillow Fighting,” “Drag Queen Jell-O Wrestling,” and an event called “Hump the Pumpkin,” the residents of a nearby condominium association claim the bar is operating illegally as an adult business.</p><p>The small but vocal group of residents at 50 Central Ave. are lobbying City Hall to revoke the Ivory Lounge's nightclub permit and possibly force it out of business. City code enforcers said they are waiting for legal advice before they respond, and expect an answer in the next two weeks.</p><p>Though somewhat original, these complaints are only the latest in an on-again, off-again conflict between The Plaza at Five Points Residences Condominium Association and the Ivory Lounge, 1413 Main St.</p><p>The residents have been complaining of noise at the club for years, and it still appears to be their chief concern. A recent letter to the city's code enforcement office from the condo association's attorney, Stephen Thompson, claims the noise is worse than ever.</p><p>But to remedy the problem, the residents have adopted the strategy of convincing city officials that the Ivory Lounge should be treated as something akin to an adult bookstore or theater.</p><p>If they succeed, the Ivory Lounge could be in trouble. It cannot continue to operate as a nightclub if it lost the permit, and Thompson is claiming the “Drag Queen” shows and other events have turned it into something different. </p><p>“I am sure these uses were not contemplated when the city commissioners approved the original conditional use permit,” Thompson wrote. “This is not the 'upscale martini lounge for a mature, educated customer,' approved by the city.”</p><p>But it is not clear that attorneys for the city will agree with Thompson's labeling of the club. Even if they do, the owner will have 60 days to appeal to the City Commission, said Tim Litchet, director of the city's building, zoning and code enforcement department.</p><p>Sarasota attorney Charlie Bailey, representing Ivory Lounge, said he hopes the city's answer will dispel any questions about whether the establishment is a nightclub or something more.</p><p><b>Friction</b> </p><p>Whatever the character of Ivory Lounge's entertainment, it appears noise and disturbances at the club are still the main issue for residents. </p><p>Representatives of the Ivory Lounge have said before that they are making every effort to follow the law and limit inconveniences to the neighbors, including installing a $400 “limiter” device to control the volume of the club's sound system.</p><p>But after meeting with city code enforcement to discuss those complaints in September, Thompson wrote that the situation was worse than ever.</p><p>“The residents of Five Points are continuously calling the police to report excessive noise, fights, and other disturbances,” he wrote. “All related to the Ivory or its patrons.”</p><p>Thompson argues that the city has only two options: revoke the club's permit or force the owner to seek a new permit for the activities that, he contends, go beyond typical nightclub management.</p><p>The city's response to the new complaint against Ivory Lounge will be delivered in the next two weeks, said City Attorney Bob Fournier.</p>